Teenage driver admits causing Send death crash

A TEENAGE driver has been warned he could face jail after he admitted causing the death of a popular and talented Woking youth footballer in a fatal car crash last year.

Luca Bertolone, 19, of Woodham Waye, Woking, broke down in tears as he pleaded guilty to the charge of causing death by careless driving while unfit through drink or drugs at Guildford Crown Court on Friday.

His friend, Thomas Difelice, 17, from Woodham, was a passenger in?the red Mini being driven by Bertolone, which came off the road and hit a wall in Broadmead Road, Send, on December 15?last year.

Hundreds of mourners attended the funeral of Thomas,?and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sent a message of condolence to?his family.

Thomas, who was a former pupil of St John the Baptist School in Woking, also played for a number of local football teams, including the youth academy?at Woking FC.

Simon Stirling, mitigating for Bertolone, said: “This is a young man facing a serious offence, but your honour will note that he is a man of just 19 years of age and previous good character.”

Delaying sentencing for reports to be compiled, Judge Suzan Mathews apologised to the?Difelice family for the time the case had taken to?get to court.

She said: “It is a matter of concern to me that it has taken this long to reach this stage.

“I’m disappointed this is causing further delay but I do accept for this age and background that the court needs the full information.”

Judge Matthews warned Bertolone all options would be considered.

She said: “Given the totality of what has gone on, you should be realistic that you could lose your liberty.”

Bertolone was granted conditional bail, but was ordered to surrender his driving licence.

He will return to court on February 3 to be sentenced.

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Driver asked schoolgirl to get in his car

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Driver asked schoolgirl to get in his car

November 22, 2010

A 21-YEAR-OLD man?has been arrested on suspicion of attempting to abduct a?girl outside Magna Carta School in Egham Hythe.

Police said the schoolgirl was asked to get into a man's vehicle?in St Paul’s Road at around 9.15am on Wednesday, November 17.

She refused and alerted staff at the school as the?suspect drove away.

Writing on the school's website, Magna Carta head teacher Tim Smith said: "In response to some parents’ recent concerns, we would like to confirm that there was an incident?when a Year 8 student was approached by a male in a car.?This happened in the morning outside of school.

"The child responded very sensibly and the incident was dealt with straight away as the police were working with a group of students in the school at the time.?Our staff were all instructed to inform students."

Detective Sergeant Mike Seear said: “We are still trying to establish all the circumstances of this isolated incident and we are anxious to speak to anyone who was either in the area at the time or has any information about the offender.

“Young people should be alert and report any unusual or suspicious activities to the police directly or through their teachers as soon as is practicable.

"Local neighbourhood officers have been patrolling the area and are available to give advice to anyone who has concerns.”

Police have also been?working closely with pupils, staff and parents at the school following the alarming incident.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Surrey Police on 0845 125 2222, quoting reference RM/10/7236, or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Police said the man arrested had been remanded in custody on "other unrelated matters".

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Driver killed in Ascot car crash

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Driver killed in Ascot car crash

November 19, 2010

A motorist has died following a fatal collision in Ascot this morning.

A yellow Renault Clio and a black BMW 318I collided on the A332 Swinley Road, close to the junction with Bracknell Road, at around 8am.

The driver of the Clio, a 30-year-old man from Surrey, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the BMX suffered minor injuries and was not taken to hospital.

Anyone who saw the collision or either vehicle before it should call PC Tom Gibson of the Road Death Investigation team on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Driver killed in Ascot car crash

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Driver killed in Ascot car crash

November 19, 2010

A motorist has died following a fatal collision in Ascot this morning.

A yellow Renault Clio and a black BMW 318I collided on the A332 Swinley Road, close to the junction with Bracknell Road, at around 8am.

The driver of the Clio, a 30-year-old man from Surrey, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the BMX suffered minor injuries and was not taken to hospital.

Anyone who saw the collision or either vehicle before it should call PC Tom Gibson of the Road Death Investigation team on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

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Lorry driver and train passenger out of hospital

THE Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has begun its probe into how a cement mixer lorry crashed through a road bridge and landed on top of a train in Oxshott.

It said the 24-tonne, three-axle HGV, which was loaded with concrete,?dropped 10ft onto?a Guildford to London Waterloo service last Friday afternoon, crushing one carriage and badly damaging two more.

The lorry driver and one train passenger were seriously injured but have since been released from hospital.

The RAIB said its investigation into the incident, which happened on and then beneath the?A244 Warren Road,?would run alongside that of Surrey Police.

The cement mixer rebounded off the train carriages and ended up on an embankment, leaving the driver trapped in his cab.

The remaining uninjured passengers were taken from the scene by coach with nine?people dropped off at the Cobham Day Centre in Oakdene Road.

Councillor John O’Reilly, leader of Elmbridge Borough Council, thanked those who manned the rest centre, saying: "We also welcome Waitrose providing complimentary milk and biscuits.

"Our entire focus throughout this incident was to ensure the safety of people, and to provide full support to the local residents and their households who were directly affected."

The RAIB said its investigation would "identify the sequence of events before, during and after the accident".

"RAIB inspectors will liaise with Surrey Police’s road traffic accident investigators in order to understand the events on the highway that led to the collision with the parapet.?

"The scope of the investigation will also encompass the steps that were taken to manage the risk of vehicle incursion at this location and at similar bridges elsewhere on Britain’s railway network."

Checks on all road bridges passing over railway lines were ordered?following the Selby tragedy nearly 10 years ago, in which a Land Rover ended up on a set of tracks and was hit by a high-speed train which was diverted into the path of a freight train. The Warren Road bridge was assessed as safe.

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A3 death crash driver fails to have sentence cut

A DRINK-DRIVER who caused two motorists' deaths after?speeding at up to 100mph?on the A3 between Cobham and Esher has failed to convince judges to cut his 11-year jail sentence.

Lawyers for Deane Girdler unsuccessfully challenged his?prison term at the Appeal Court in London on Friday last week (November 5).

It was imposed for two counts of causing death by dangerous driving after the pile-up on January 19, 2008, which killed Weybridge cab driver, Preston Trueick, 61, and Catherine Cunningham, 67, from Liphook.

Girdler, of Fullmer Way, Woodham, who smelt of alcohol in the aftermath of the crash, was convicted at Kingston Crown Court in March this year.?He was also banned from the road for 10 years.

Lord Justice Gross, sitting with Mr Justice Ramsey and Mr Justice Hedley, said the 45-year-old hit speeds of around 100mph as he approached the scene of the tragedy at Copsem Lane.

Other motorists had been alarmed by his erratic driving, the court heard, tipping off police after seeing him veer across lanes, tailgate cars and drive with palpably slowed reactions.

The double tragedy came when Girdler, who was living in Cobham at the time, hit the back of Mr Trueick's cab, skittling it across the?carriageway so that it straddled the central reservation.

Mr Trueick was struggling to flee from his taxi?when?Mrs Cunningham's oncoming car smashed into it.

Lord Justice Gross said Girdler “smelt strongly of drink” when he emerged from his own car, but repeatedly failed to provide a breath specimen for analysis.

Letters from both victims' families spoke of the "devastating" effect of their deaths, said the judge.

Both letters also referred to the total lack of remorse shown by Girdler.

Given the horrific facts of the case, an 11-year jail term "cannot be described as manifestly excessive", the appeal judge concluded.

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Truck driver slapped with 12 counts of causing death

Corentyne smash-up…
Thirty-eight year-old Chetram Moonsammy, of Johanna, Black Bush Polder, Berbice, appeared at the Berbice Magistrate court yesterday before Magistrate Adela Nagamootoo to answer to 13 charges.
Moonsammy was charged with 12 counts of causing death by dangerous driving and one count of failing to render assistance.
It alleged that on Friday, October 29, last, he drove motor lorry GLL 8863 in a manner dangerous to the public and claimed the lives of 12 persons while injuring five others.

Remanded: Chetram Moonsammy

That information was sworn to by Sergeant Forbes Brown.
Police prosecutor Roberto Figueira told the Magistrate that the defendant should be remanded to prison citing the seriousness of the offence. He said that the defendant allegedly caused the death of 12 persons and if granted bail would flee the jurisdiction. He said that the offence was committed on the Number 19 Corentyne Public Road, Berbice, and that the said lorry driver did not offer any assistance. He fled the scene but was arrested at the Whim Police Station.
Attorney at law Mursaline Bacchus appeared on behalf of the defendant, and made an application for bail. He informed the Magistrate that the offence is a bailable one and that his client did not act recklessly and if he did, he would have been charged with manslaughter.
He stated that his client on the day of the incident did not flee the scene, but instead reported at the Whim Police Station and was brought back to the scene.
Bacchus told the court that the fact 12 persons died does not mean that his client is guilty and refusal of bail should not be used as a punishment.
Moonsammy’s attorney also made reference to a report in the media which stated that the driver of the bus that was involved in the accident ‘was at fault’ and that the police did not refute such claims.
The Magistrate however objected to him using print media information.

Attorney at law Mursaline Bacchus

Bacchus went on to explain that the prosecutor did not submit any growing evidence and he did not see why his client should be denied bail.
The lawyer told the magistrate that his client lives with his wife and is tasked with providing a livelihood for three minors. He owns 150 acres of rice fields which is in its period of harvesting, and if incarcerated, he will lose all his crops. In addition to his lengthy bail application, the passport due date of the accused was also submitted as proof for bail to be granted.
It appeared that Bacchus’s submission fell on deaf ears as Moonsammy was remanded and will return to court on January 3rd.
Bacchus then informed Magistrate Nagamootoo that he would be moving to the High Court for bail.
On Friday, last, Oudit Narine Baboolall, who was the driver of the of the minibus; Orlando De Mattos, Talita Mendonca and her two-month-old son Josiah Khan; Janet Baker, 46-year-old Salima Dilmohammed, Salmaa Razaac, Cindy Jaggernauth, 35, Patricia Asgarally, 38 year-old Chetram Ramphal, Nazradin Mohinudin and Marquest Ault were killed in an accident on the No.19 Corentyne Public Road.
The route 63 minibus was heading east along the thoroughfare when it collided with a truck driven by Moonsammy.
It was reported that it was raining at the time of the accident.
The five survivors are Tamika Fraser, of Kildonan; Sham Jaggernauth, of Nigg; Nicola Ross and Anwhatie Singh.

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Speeding driver killed in Diamond crash

A speeding driver was killed just before midnight last night and his wife injured after the car they were in slammed headlong into a utility pole on the east Bank Demerara public road near Little Diamond.
The driver, identified as Bopendra Narine, a barber of Grove Squatting Area, East Bank Demerara, died at around 23:30 hrs at the Diamond Diagnostic Centre, despite valiant efforts by medical staff to save him.

A grief-stricken relative

His reputed wife, Amanda Singh, 26, sustained head injuries and was admitted to the Georgetown Public Hospital Corporation.
Narine and his wife were heading south along the East Bank Demerara public road at around 22:30 hrs, in their vehicle, which had the words ‘Black Lightning’ emblazoned on it, when he lost control at the turn near Diamond Distilleries Limited.
He skidded off the roadway and slammed into a utility pole with such force that it snapped in two.
Eyewitnesses said that his spouse, Amanda, was hurled through an open window into a nearby ditch.
A relative of Narine’s, who was driving nearby and witnessed the accident, took the badly injured man and his wife to the Diamond Diagnostic Centre.
As the medical staffers battled to save the unconscious man, relatives who gathered outside the hospital became incensed when they realised that there was no ambulance driver present to transport the couple to the Georgetown Public Hospital. At the time, there were two ambulances in the compound, but no driver was around.
Eventually, an ambulance arrived from the GPHC, but by then, Narine had already succumbed.
Earlier in the day, motorcyclist Robin Ali was killed on the same public road when his CBR motorcycle crashed into a pole near Houston.

An injured Amanda Singh being transported to the GPHC.

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